Endless track for vehicles



April 16, 1946. E. H. w. FOOT ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VEHICLES 'Filed May 31944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 16, 1946 v UNETED s ENnLEss'raAoKFOB YEH IQEES Edward Hammond Whalley Fat, Bataan, England, assignor toThe Tillage & Sub-soiling Company Limited, Beaconsfield, EnglandApplication May 30, 1944, Serial N0. 538,019 In Great Britain June 18,1943 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to endless tracks for vehicles.

It has previously been proposed to provide cantilever locking members onthe adjacent units of an endless track for the purpose of limiting theflexing of the track under load. i

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form ofcantilever locking means which is comparatively cheap to produce andwhich can be readily assembled with the track.

It is another object of the invention to provide a unit for assemblywith a pivot pin connecting adjacent links of an endless track forvehicles comprising a sleeve adapted to surround the pivot pin and atleast two cantilever interlocking members formed as an integral part ofthe sleeve, one of said members comprising a tongue and the other an armhaving a slot in which the tongue of an adjacent track linkreciprocates.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a unit comprising asleeve adapted to fit over the pivot pin and having at least two pairsof interlocking members formed as an integral part of the sleeve.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved forms ofinterlocking'members adapted to provide broad mutual bearing surface toresist Wear in use.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of an endless track of a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the unit embodying the interlocking membersviewed from the direction of arrow A.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the unit viewed from the direction of arrow B,and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 embodying a modifiedform of the invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the track is built up of linksI arranged in pairs connected by pivot pins 2. The links are of anydesired design and have track plates 3 secured thereto by bolts. Thetrack is provided with cantilever locking means which are cast as an Ifor engaging with the face Ba and wall ll. Each pivot pin is threadedthrough the sleeve of the castings which are so arranged that the tongue9 enters between the arms I of the stirrup. The pivotal movement of thecastings is limited by the tongue 9 engaging the bearing surface in oneextreme position, and the end wall portion H at its other extremeposition.

When the track is substantially horizontal, that is when the trackplates engage the ground on the lower run of the track, the ton ues 9engage with the bearing surface 8a and lock the track against inwardflexing movement.

As the track plates move successively into and out of ground engagingposition, they are guided in a curved path as indicated by the left-handunit in Fig. 1. The path of curvature they follow is limited, in thiscase, by the tongues 9 engaging the wall position I I of the stirru ofthe adjacent track unit.

A boss 12 on the sleeve enga es a flat surface on a track plate 3 toenable the stirrup arm to be fixed to the link and the track plate at apredetermined angle.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modified form of the invention, the sleeve l3 whichfits over a pivot pin connecting adjacent track links, being providedwith two pairs of cantilever locking members. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5the sleeve l3 has two aligned tongues l4 similar to the tongues 9 andtwo aligned stirrup members l5 similar to the stirrup B, the two pairsof tongues and stirrups being cast integrally with the sleeve I3.

I claim:

1. In an endless track for vehicles of the type wherein adjacent tracklinks are connected by a pivot pin, a unit comprising a pivot pin sleeveand at least two cantilever interlocking members formed as an integralpart of the said sleeve, one of said locking members comprising a tonguehaving a broad bearing face and the other of said locking memberscomprising an arm having a slot in which the tongue of an adjacent tracklink reciprocates, and a broad bearing surface at the end of the slotfor engagement by the bearing face of the tongue.

2. In an endless track for vehicles of the type wherein adjacent tracklinks are connected by a pivot pin, a unit comprising a pivot pin sleeveand at least two arms extending at right angles to one another andforming an integral part of the unit, a fiat faced tongue on one arm anda.

slot in the other of said arms, and aflat bearing surface at the end ofthe slot for engagement by' the fiat face of the tongue of an adjacentlink.

3, In an endless track for vehicles of the type wherein adjacent tracklinks are connected by a a pivot pin, a unit comprising a pivot pinsleeve and at least two cantilever interlocking members formed as anintegral part of the said sleeve, one of said locking members comprisinga tongue having a broad bearing face and the other of said lockingmembers comprising an arm having a slot' in which the tongue of anadjacent track link reciprocates, and a broad bearing surface at the endof the slot for engagement by the bearing face of the tongue of anadjacent track link and a boss projecting from the sleeve intoengagement with the track plate for locating the sleeve at apredetermined angle relative to the said track plate.

EDWARD HAMMOND WHALLEY FOOT.

